A study issued in 2007 has found that the Findhorn
Ecovillage in Moray, Scotland has recorded the
lowest-ever ecological footprint
for any community in the industrialised world.
Ecological footprinting is a tool to measure the
consumption of resources and the creation of wastes,
and is increasingly relevant to the world of today
where energy efficiency and sustainability are
critical in our efforts to combat climate change.

The community's footprint is a fraction over half
the national average, meaning that the average
resident in the community consumes just one half
of the resources and generates one half of the
waste of the average citizen of the UK.

The study was undertaken by GEN-Europe
(the Global Ecovillage Network) in collaboration
with the Sustainable Development Research
Centre (SDRC) in Forres. Technical support
was provided by the internationally-recognised
footprinting consultants, the Stockholm Environment
Institute based at the University of York.